Children want more practical skills – report

by Brett Henebery20 Nov 2018

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A new report shows that children want more life-skills and practical skills for the future in school, including basic finance skills such as budgeting.

The research, coinciding with World Children’s Day, was released today by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), created in 1946 to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II.

UNICEF’s nine Young Ambassadors are travelling around Australia to visit schools and consult with children about the issues that matter to them and ensure that their voices are heard.

This year’s World Children’s Day is centered on how schools and communities can best equip children for the future.

“Children are telling us that they want to be able to learn more life-skills and practical skills for the future in school including basic finance skills such as budgeting,” UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador, Lachlan Arthur, said.

“Almost all the children we have spoken to so far recognise that the future is in technology and want their education to help them harness opportunities in this area in the future.”

UNICEF Australia CEO, Tony Stuart, said World Children’s Day is “a fun day with a serious message”.

“It is a day when all children are encouraged to speak out about what matters to them,” Stuart said.

“It is also an opportunity for adults, whether they be parents or politicians, to make a special effort to listen to children about how we can best support them.”